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Zelensky’s government has been pleading for new weaponry from the outgoing US administration of President Joe Biden as its forces buckle across the eastern front in the face of a grinding pre-winter offensive from Russia.
Moscow said Friday its forces had captured a village near the embattled supply hub of Pokrovsk and another near the industrial town of Kurakhove, gaining further ground in two key areas of the east Ukraine frontline.
Analysts say the next few months will be crucial as both sides jostle for battlefield momentum ahead of what are expected to be peace negotiations imposed by Trump.
Fears in Ukraine about major territorial concessions increased after the US leader named Keith Kellogg, a retired general and critic of US military aid, as his Ukraine envoy last month.
Biden’s administration announced an additional $725 million military package for the country on Monday.
– Revival –
As well as German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen, Britain’s Prince William confirmed Friday that he would add some royal stardust to Saturday’s religious service and public celebrations at Notre Dame.
He would attend “at the request of His Majesty’s Government on behalf of the United Kingdom” but would travel without his wife, Catherine, who is recovering from cancer.
Saturday’s proceedings are set to begin at 7pm with Macron due to deliver a speech from a tented area in front of the cathedral which was devastated by a 2019 fire that destroyed its roof and spire.
Paris archbishop Laurent Ulrich will then lead the first full service inside Notre Dame, symbolically reviving its refurbished 8,000-pipe organ and leading prayers and hymns under the new vaulted wooden roof of the 850-year-old Gothic monument.
The evening will wrap up with a televised concert featuring music by Chinese pianist Lang Lang, South African opera singer Pretty Yende and possibly US singer and fashion designer Pharrell Williams who is widely rumoured to perform.